A man who grabbed his partner’s arm after dousing her with cider said he felt ‘disgusted’ by what he had done.

David Reid, 53, had pleaded not guilty to beating the woman – but returned to Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, a week before the trial was scheduled to take place, in order to admit the charge.

He now felt ‘really regretful and disgusted by this offence’, solicitor Phil Kouvaritakis said.

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Prosecuting, Anne Sawyer-Brandish said police were called to the home of Reid’s partner, in Bartlemas Road, east Oxford, on May 9.

They arrived to find the woman crying and with a bruised arm. 

Despite police bail conditions preventing him from being in the house, he was found in the bedroom.

Ms Sawyer-Brandish said that, although the victim no longer supported the prosecution, she had told police at the scene that she had let Reid into the house as she ‘never seemed able to stop him getting in’. He poured a bottle of cider over her then grabbed her arm when she tried to use her phone.

Mitigating, Mr Kouvaritakis described the relationship between his client and the victim as a volatile one. His client recognised he had a problem with alcohol and had sought support from Turning Point.

Reid, of Green Hill, Oxford, was jailed for 16 weeks and must pay £328 in costs and surcharge.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward